Assessment, management of suffering, and quality of life

“Suffering is often seen as something inherently negative, yet in reality, it offers us the opportunity to grow in the planning for human finitude.”

The World Health Organization defines quality of life as: “The perception of one's place in existence, cultural context and the system of values in which one lives and in relation to one's objectives, expectations and standards.”

Quality of life influences our physical, emotional, social, and cognitive functioning, and is shaped by two key indicators of well-being or discomfort:

-       Objectives: (These include physical symptoms, burdensome treatments, living conditions, environmental stimuli, financial stability, a social support network, etc)

-       Subjectives: (traditions, beliefs, satisfaction, feelings, mood, sexuality, goals, Self-confidence, self-images, self-control, autonomy, lack of life meaning, etc.)

On the other hand, suffering is a negative affective and cognitive state, characterized by the feeling of being threatened in one's personal integrity and accompanied by a sense of powerlessness to cope with exhaustion using personal and psychosocial resources.

At COINCIDIR, we use various instruments such as questionnaires, scales, and indices, along with specialized techniques to assess suffering and quality of life, particularly in relation to the potential presence of pain as a primary concern.

“The one who suffers finds themselves in a unique moment in which, through the light of that experience, they can perceive, with new lights, the distinction which is precise to do between what truly matters and what does not.”

Aquilino Polaino Lorente